Support bracket to suspend sheet material for a wall

ABSTRACT

A bracket has outwardly projecting support arms for use in installing a panel of sheet material, such as drywall or sheet rock, on a wall frame. The bracket has a base with one or more through-holes for temporarily attaching the bracket to a vertical stud of the wall frame. The support arms of the bracket extend horizontally from the bracket to support the lower edge of a panel of sheet material. By using a pair of brackets, an installer can position and support a large panel of sheet material at an elevated pre-assembly location on the wall frame without the help of an assistant. After the brackets have been attached to the wall frame, a panel of sheet material is installed by first resting the sheet on the support arms of the brackets and then positioning and fastening the panel to the wall. The brackets can then be removed and be reused to install a new panel of sheet material over another area of the wall frame. The bracket includes a flange that can be easily grasped by either hand while installing or removing the bracket.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a bracket which may be temporarily attached to a vertical stud for the purpose of supporting a section of sheet building material, to assist the installer as he secures the sheet section to the stud.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is known to provide brackets for temporary installation on vertical support members, such as a pair of abutting studs forming part of a wall frame, for supporting a section of sheet material during wall construction. Examples are disclosed in published Canadian patent application No. 2,052,996 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,449,338.

However, such known devices are relatively complex and cumbersome to use and are not ideally suited for use with both wooden and metal studs commonly used in building construction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a bracket for use in the installation of sheet material, such as drywall or sheet rock, on stud-framed wall structures.

The bracket of the present invention includes a flat base which can be readily applied to abut the side surface of a vertical stud, wherein the base is intersected by holes through which threaded fasteners may be driven into the stud to firmly attach the bracket to the stud. A pair of vertically spaced apart, horizontal, outwardly projecting, oppositely directed L-shaped support arms are formed on the brace. Preferably, the bracket is formed as an integral unit of injection molded plastic.

The support arms are preferably joined along one side by an outwardly projecting flange, for reinforcing the arms. By providing a pair of oppositely directed support arms, the bracket is adapted for use by either left or right-handed installers.

In the installation of drywall on stud frame wall structures, it is often preferable to install the sheets in a horizontal orientation to minimize the number of joints to be taped. This is especially true on longer walls where it is possible to use longer lengths of drywall, such as 10, 12 or 14-foot long sheets. When installing drywall in this fashion, it is typical to start from the ceiling and work downwards to the floor. This requires the handling and positioning of drywall against the stud frame so that the drywall is flush with the ceiling and any adjoining wall.

These longer lengths are often too heavy to be handled by a single installer so at least one other person is needed to help position the sheet on the wall during its installation. Using the bracket of the present invention, it is possible for a single installer to install sheet material without the help of an assistant.

The bracket of the present invention is used by temporarily screwing the bracket to a stud at an appropriate height on the stud so it may be used as a support for the sheet material. Preferably, a second bracket is installed on another stud along the wall at about the same height so that the sheet material may be placed at or near the position the sheet material is to be fastened onto the wall.

With the brackets holding the sheet material at or near its intended installed position, the installer can then easily nail or screw the sheet to the studs until it is completely installed. The brackets are then removed from the studs so that the installer can complete covering the wall with sheet material. The installer can then use the brackets to install sheet material on another wall section.

To keep the cost of the bracket affordable and to keep its manufactured cost low, the bracket is preferably made of injection molded plastic.

Generally, the bracket of the present invention is intended for use in installing sheet material on a frame wall stud, comprising a base having upper and lower ends and a substantially flat surface extending there between for abutting against a side surface of a frame wall stud, the base being intersected by at least one hole through which a fastener may be driven to firmly attach the bracket to the stud, and a substantially horizontal, upwardly directed L-shaped support arm which projects outwardly and away from the stud.

According to another aspect, the bracket of the present invention includes a base having a substantially flat surface for abutting contact against a side surface of a frame wall stud. The base is intersected by at least one hole through which a threaded fastener may be driven into the stud to firmly attach the bracket to the frame wall structure, and the base including a pair of vertically spaced apart, horizontal, outwardly projecting, oppositely directed L-shaped support arms for holding a section of dry wall board or sheet rock building material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the bracket of the present invention mounted to a flat side surface of a C-shaped wall stud;

FIG. 2 a is a perspective view showing a building material sheet resting on a pair of brackets mounted on laterally spaced, vertical wall studs, in a temporary placement prior to securing the sheet to the studs;

FIG. 2 b is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 a, showing the sheet secured to the studs;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bracket;

FIG. 4 is a side end elevation view of the bracket;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the bracket; and

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, the bracket 1 comprises a flat rectangular base 2 having a bottom stud contact surface 3.

A pair of vertically spaced apart, horizontal, oppositely directed, L-shaped support arms 4 project forwardly from the base 2. The support arms 4 each provide a panel-supporting surface 5 and a panel-retaining lip 6.

Through holes 7 are formed in the base 2, through which threaded fasteners 8 may be driven to fasten the bracket 1 onto the side surface 9 of the stud 10.

A first flange 11 protrudes forwardly from the base 2 and joins the support arms 4 at their lower ends at one side. The flange 11 functions to reinforce the support arms 4. A second flange 12 projects sideways from the first flange 11, to provide means for the installer to grasp to firmly hold the bracket 1.

The support arms 4 of the brackets 1 provide temporary support for a section or panel of dry wall 13 at an elevated position on the wall frame prior to final positioning and fastening.

In use, the base 2 is positioned vertically as shown in FIG. 1, to bring the stud contact surface 3 into abutment with the side surface 9 of the stud 10. Threaded fasteners 8 can then be driven through holes 7 to affix the bracket 1 firmly to stud 10. One upwardly directed support arm 4 then provides a panel-supporting surface 5 to engage the lower edge of the panel 13 and also provides a retaining lip 6 for unassisted support of the panel when the panel is disposed in an angular pre-installation position, as shown in FIG. 2 a.

After the panel 13 has been fastened to studs 10, the brackets 1 can be removed by extracting the threaded fasteners 8. This process is then repeated until the desired wall area is completely covered by sheeting.

Because the bracket 1 in the preferred embodiment is formed of injection molded plastic, it is characterized by low manufacturing cost and ease of use.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that other suitable materials having properties similar to that of injection molded plastic may be used to fabricate the bracket of the present invention.

The words used in this specification are words of description rather than limitation. Although the bracket of the present invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of the bracket may be employed without a corresponding use of other features, and some modifications may be made to adapt the bracket to a particular building installation or wall frame stud structure without departing from the essential scope and spirit of the invention. The preferred embodiment described herein is exemplary of the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. 

1. A bracket for use in installing sheet material on a wall frame of the type including one or more studs, comprising: a base having an upper end, a lower end and a contact surface extending there between for abutting against a wall frame stud; the base being intersected by one or more holes through which a fastener may be driven into a stud to firmly attach the bracket to the stud; and a first L-shaped support arm disposed on the base, the support arm projecting outwardly from the upper end and away from the base.
 2. The bracket as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a second L-shaped support arm, the second support arm being vertically spaced from the first support arm, the second support arm projecting outwardly from the lower end and away from the base.
 3. The bracket as set forth in claim 2, including a first flange joining the first support arm and the second support arm along one side of the base.
 4. The bracket as set forth in claim 3, including a second flange that extends outwardly and laterally relative to the first flange to provide means for grasping the bracket.
 5. The bracket as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bracket is a unitary molded structure made of a plastic material.
 6. The bracket as set forth in claim 1, wherein the base is intersected by a second hole through which a fastener may be driven into a stud to firmly attach the bracket to the stud.
 7. A bracket for use in installing sheet material on a wall, comprising: a base having a substantially flat surface for abutting against a side surface of a stud of said wall; the base forming at least one hole through which a threaded fastener may be driven into a stud to firmly attach the bracket to the stud; and the base having a pair of vertically spaced apart, horizontal, outwardly projecting, oppositely directed L-shaped support arms.
 8. The bracket as set forth in claim 6, wherein the support arms are joined along one side of said base by a first outwardly projecting flange for reinforcing the support arms.
 9. The bracket as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a second flange that extends outwardly and sideways relative to the first flange to provide means for grasping the bracket.
 10. The bracket as set forth in claim 7, wherein the bracket is an integral unit of injection molded plastic material.
 11. The bracket as set forth in claim 7, wherein the base is intersected by a second hole through which a threaded fastener may be driven into a stud to firmly attach the bracket to the stud. 